Discolored Water: Causes, Fixes & Prevention
What Are The Causes?
The most likely cause of the discolored water in your home is a rusty galvanized iron pipe. When the water flow increases more than usual or after not being used for a period of time, the rust gets shaken loose and dissolves into the water causing it to turn various shades of yellow, orange, or brown.
If you are on a city water main system, the issue can be brought on by increased water flow or usage due to fighting fires or water being rerouted to repair a water main break. Another cause may be substances that occur naturally in our water, such as sediment, from the area you live in. If you are having issues and your neighbors are not, then that might be a sign you have a problem with the pipes in your home, and thus must call a professional plumber.
How Can It Be Fixed?
The discolored water is not harmful, but does not look very appealing and can be a sign that your plumbing system is old and may need to be fixed. In the meantime, you can turn on all of the faucets in your home and allow them to run for a few minutes or until the water becomes clear again. If that doesn't work, you can try again later on. If you have an internal plumbing issue, you should contact a plumber to have them come out and inspect your plumbing system to see if it needs to be repaired or replaced.
How Do I Prevent It?
The best thing to prevent having discolored water is to talk to a licensed plumber about options of replacing your system. You may be able to replace all of your galvanized iron pipes with copper pipes, which do not rust. This may not prevent all sediment from mixing in with your water if you are on a city water main system. If this is the case, you can install a water filtration system throughout your home. This system filters the sediment and rust before the water reaches your faucet. Make sure to contact a local plumber to find out which option is best for your home.
Bring in a plumber into your Fort Lauderdale home to look over your plumbing system and make the necessary corrections. Call C&D Plumbing Inc. at (954) 758-8169 today!